Receptacle filling machine



April 5 1938. c DOERING 2,113,081

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Gharles ,Doerhgj] BY fl jgzf orn ey.

April 5, 1938. c. DOERING REGEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P April 5, 1938. Q DoERmG 2,113,081

REGEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 #5 //4 Izaak/ 50P Charles Doerz j Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNETED stares PATENT orricl:

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Charles Doering, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Henry Doering, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 25, 1936, Serial No. 70,789

12 Claims. (Cl. 226-24) This invention relates to receptacle filling masuccessive receptacles will be uniform, sightly in chines and more particularly to machines for appearance and completely sanitary.

filling containers with dairy substances, al- Other objects and advantages will appear from though certain features thereof may be employed the following illustrative description of a prewith equal advantage for other purposes. ferred embodiment of the present invention. 5

It contemplates more especially the provision In the drawings: of improved means for filling tubs with butter Figure 1 is a plan view in elevation of a device or similar dairy substances so as to effect the embodying features of the present invention, packaging thereof with utmost sanitation and parts thereof being shown in section to clarify without entailing much time or labor. the showing. 10

Heretofore it has been the practice to largely Figure 2 is a front View in elevation of the dedepend upon hand filling of tubs with butter and vice shown in Figure 1. similar dairy substances. This involves appre- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantialciable manual labor, time, and is not conducive 1y along line IIIIII of Figure 1. to the desired sanitation which is a requisite with Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of the ma- 15 edible products. While machines have been chine shown in Figure l with parts thereof shown heretofore proposed for filling tubs with edible in section and the extreme positions of the parts plastic substances, yet these have not proven enshown in dotted outline to clarify the showing. tirely satisfactory for the purpose in that plas- Figure 5 is a sectional view in elevation. of a tic substances are readily densified responsive to braking device taken substantially along line 20 handling and are otherwise impaired both from VV of Figure 4.

an appearance as well as texture standpoint Figure 6 is a sectional View taken substantially when subjected to handling in a manner that is along line VIVI of Figure 5. not conducive to uniform treatment. The structure selected for illustration com- It is imperative, therefore, that edible subprises a frame l0 constructed from any suitable stances such as butter, lard, and similar plastics material such as angle iron to present a subbe subjected to uniform handling in order to stantially rectangular unit supported at the decontrol their density and to avoid any impairsired elevation by forward and rearward corner ment to the homogeneity of the constituent subsupports II and I2. Cross members comprising stances throughout their mass. angle bars I3 maintain the corner standards ll One object of the present invention is to simand !Z in spaced parallelism and serve to rigidify plify and'improve the construction of machines the frame unit ID as a self-sustaining support for of the character mentioned. instrumentalities to be described hereinafter. Another object is to provide improved means The frame standards I! are preferably, though for filling tubs or other receptacles with edible not essentially, provided with casters M that co- 35 plastic substances so as to effect the confinement operate with the extremities of the rearward thereof with utmost sanitation and without enstandards l2 to sustain the frame ill in a horitailing any appreciable time or labor. zontal plane. The forward standards H with Still another object is to provide means for the casters [4 enable the convenient movement filling receptacles with plastic substances so as of the frame I0 with its instrumentalities to any 40 to confine such with uniform density and withdesired location.

out impairment to the density thereof. The frame Ill has horizontally disposed bars A further object is to provide means for filling l5 and i6 disposed thereon for support in spaced receptacles with edible substances at a predeparallelism with the longitudinal bar members termined density without requiring skilled superof frame It, these being supported at their for- 45 vision, handling, or entailing much time. ward extremities by a plate 11 with struts iii A still further object is to provide a tub fillserving as supports proximate to the rear exing device that discharges edible plastic subtremities thereof to maintain the bars l5 and IE stances within the confines thereof at a predeat the desired elevation with respect to the termined density and without impairment to the frame Ill. The guide bars l5 and I5 have flanges 50 texture thereof. It and 20 along the longitudinal edges thereof to Still a further object is to provide means for present a substantially U-shaped cross-section filling receptacles with edible plastic substances in confronting relation with each other to dewith the utmost sanitation, uniformity in texfine guide rails for flanged wheels 2|. The flange 5 5 ture, and in predetermined quantities so that the wheels 2|, in this instance four, are journalled on axles 22 anchored in a substantially rectangular carriage 23 sized in width to be somewhat narrower than the space between the confronting guide rails l5 and Hi to permit the flange wheels 2| to be interposed therebetween as a complement to the confronting surfaces of the rails l5 and H5.

These sustain the carriage 23 for displacement along the rails l5 and i5 within the limits of their length for a purpose that will appear more fully hereinafter. As shown, the carriage 23 has a forward plate 24 which is fixed to the side members 25 and 26 thereof, to present an axial circular flange 27 defining an opening to freely receive the cylindrical discharge spout 28 therethrough. The discharge spout 28 is connected to a substance treating device which will be described more fully hereinafter, but which forms no part of the present invention except as an element utilized in connection therewith.

Now, then, the side rails of the carriage 23 have bracket arms 29 and 3|) fixed thereto intermediate the length thereof .to sustain a receptacle support. To this end, the bracket arms 28 and 30 carry a pintle 3| projecting through their lower extremities to pivotally sustain a receptacle sustaining bracket 32 having axially intersecting arms 33, 34, and 35 integrally or otherwise connected by a central boss 31. It will be observed that the lower radial arms 33 and 34 have enlarged bosses 35 and 39, respectively, at their lower extremity for pivotal connection to the pintle 38 so that the bracket 32 may be pivoted relative thereto. The upper intersecting brackets 35 and 35 are connected by a pintle 4B which has a roller 4| journalled between the arms 35 and 35 to serve as an axle member for pivotal manipulating and displacing the receptacle sustaining bracket 32.

The carriage bracket arms 29 and 3|! are connected at their upper extremities by a rod 42 having a roller 43 interposed therebetween to cooperate with latches 44 and 45 pivotally mounted on the pintle 45 outside of the arms 35 and 36 of the bracket 32, the latches 44 and 45 being shaped to engage the roller 43 supported by the arms 29 and 38 to normally maintain the receptacle sustaining bracket 32 in a vertical plane. The axial boss 3'! of the bracket 32 is provided with a bore to receive a stub shaft 4'6 comprising a part of the circular platform 41 that is attached to the reduced extremity 48 thereof. A set screw or other suitable fastening expedient 49 extends through the boss 3'! to detachably connect the platform thereto.

The platform 41 is, in this instance, designed to adapt itself to a base 5|) of the receptacle 5| which preferably though not essentially comprises an open tub, although its shape and size may be varied within a wide range depending upon the dictates of commercial practice and the uses for which the filling machine is desired. The receptacle 5| is sustained by the base platform 4'! in conjunction with rods 52 and 53 which extend through bosses 54 and 55 in the radial arms 33 and 34, respectively, (Figures 2, 3 and/l) The supporting rods 52 and 53 are held in the bosses 54 and 55 by means of set screws 55 so as to sustain the receptacle 5| in a horizontal position in conjunction with the base platform 47 for movement with the pivotally mounted supporting bracket 32 having a handle 4| for its displacement about the pintle 3|. This is possible when the latches 44 and 45 are disconnected from the roller 43 by displacement in a clockwise direction (Figure 4).

In order to separate the substance within the interior of the container 5| when filled from the source of supply through the discharge spent, a severing wire 51 is tensioned between threaded studs 58 and 59 anchored in plates 60 and 6| which are attached to vertically extended rods 2 and 33. The rods 52 and 63 are guided for movement on vertically aligned sheaves 64 and 55 journalled on axles 55 carried by brackets 61, in this instance four, fixed to the corners of the forward plate 24 of the carriage 23. In consequence thereof, the cutting wire 51 is tensioned between the plates 60 and 6| forwardly of the sheaves 64 and 55 and rearwardly adjacent the forward plate 24 of the carriage 23.

The severing wire 57 is elevated with the rods 62 and 63 that serve as a guide therefor over the sheaves 84 and 55, by means of links 68 and 69 pivotally connected to the wire carrying plates 52 and 6|. The links 68 and 69 are adjustably connected to rods '18 and II that have furcated extremities which serve to afford pivotal attachment to the lever arms i2 and 73 pivoted as at 14 and E5 to the vertical bracket arms 29 and 3|] of the carriage 23. The inclined lever arms 12 and 23 extend upwardly beyond the pivots l4 and 15 in a vertical direction to provide arms 16 and 11 formed integrally therewith. The arms 16 and Ti extend upwardly beyond the roller 4| of the receptacle supporting bracket 32 to present a handle 18 rotatably mounted upon a pintle 19 that bridges the arms 16 and TI to maintain them in rigid spaced relation.

It will be observed, therefore, that the rotation of the lever arms 16 and 11 responsive to the displacement of the handle 18 in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 4) will lift the severing wire 5'! across the open mouth or peripheral edge 85 of the open tub or other receptacle 5| to sever the substances confined therein from the source of supply which is provided through the discharge spout 28 connected to a conditioning housing 8| of any suitable treating machine 82.

The treating machine 82 may comprise a housing 83 having a spiral or other type of conveyor 34 therein for receiving the butter or other edible substances through an opening 85 in the machine housing 83. The edible substance is fed along a predetermined path within the housing 83 by the operation of the conveyor 84 to extrude such through the constricted opening or discharge throat 86 formed in the end of the feeding housing 83. The conditioning housing 83 that connects with the constricted throat 86 of the feeding machine 82 is preferably provided with chambered walls 8'! which define a jacket for receiving a tempering fluid circulated therethrough by means of a pressure flow into pipe 88 and out of pipe 89, although the flow may be interrupted for temperature control or reversed in direction. Any suitable tempering fluid such as steam, water or a refrigerant may be circulated through the jacket 8'! of the conditioning housing 83 for discharging edible substances 9|] at the proper consistency from the treatment machine 82 to the discharge spout 23 that is normally within the receptacle 6| when the carriage 23 is in its initial forward position. The feeding of the edible substances 90 forces the receptacle 5| together with its carriage 23 rearwardly or to the right (as shown in Figures 1, 3,- and 4) until filled up to its open mouth edge 80. Thereupon, the handle 18 is displaced in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figures 3 and 4) to elevate the severing wire 51 to separate the substances 90 within the receptacle 5! from the substances within the conditioning housing 8!.

At this moment the feeding machine may be rendered inactive and after the separation has been effected, the latches M and 45 of the receptacle sustaining bracket 32 are rotated in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figures 3 and 4) to enable the handle 4! to be manipulated for displacement of the entire bracket 92 in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figures 3 and 4) so as to move the receptacle 5! therewith to a vertical upright position (shown in dotted outline in Figure 4). Thereupon the filled rereptacle 5| is placed upon a conveyor frame 9| that is preferably, though not essentially, attached to the terminals of the guide rails l5 and I6 (Figure l) to afford displacement of the filled receptacle 5| over a series of closely spaced conveyor rollers 92 that are carried by the rods 93 journalled in angle bars 94 fixed to the frame 9! on both sides of a supporting area 95 sized and positioned to receive the receptacle sustaining bracket 32 when it is displaced in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figures 3 and 4) to a horizontal plane (shown in dotted outline in Figure 4).

In order that the edible substances 9!) may be supplied to the interior of the container or receptacle 5| at a predetermined or selected density and to preclude the free movement of the carriage 23 which must be controlled, a braking mechanism 96 is provided for that purpose. The braking mechanism comprises, in this instance, a link 9? attached to the pintle 3| (Figure 4) which bridges the lower extremities of the carriage arms 29 and 39. The link 91 has its other extremity attached to a chain 98 that is in meshing engagement with a gear 99 journalled on a shaft 50:]. The shaft N39 is supported by spaced bearing brackets ltl fixed to the frame [0 (Figure 5).

As shown, the gear 99 has a peripheral flange I92 extending laterally from the face thereof to cooperate with ball bearings I93 comprising a part of a clutch which has a stationary cooperating element Hi4 fixed to the shaft Hill. A brake element I95 is concentrically fixed to a cylindrical shaft engaging portion We of the weight element 594, and these are held fast to the shaft Hi9 through a pin 'lill extending radially therethrough. A frictional brake band H98 envelops the brake element I95, and the extremities I99 and H8 are attached to rods Ill and H2, respectively. The rod ill bridges depending struts i i3 fixed to the frame l9 while the rod I I2 is carried by the extremity N4 of a bar H5. The bar H5 is pivoted about the rod HI through the extremity 5 l4 thereof so that the normal clockwise gravity urge of the bar H5 (viewed from Figure 4) tensions the flexible brake band 96 to frictionally grasp the peripheral surface of the brake element I85. A weight H9 is carried by the bar M5 for displacement therealong, it having a flanged stud H! projecting therethrough to engage the bar l 55 so that the weight may be held in its adjusted position therealong.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the tensioning of the flexible brake band 99 and its frictional grasp of the brake element I95 may be varied within a wide range depending upon the position of the weight H6 relative to the pivotal support Hi and the brake bar H5. The chain 93 also has a weight H8 fixed to the extremity thereof so that it will be in meshing engagement with the gear 99 so that the ball bearings I93 confined therein will cooperate with a peripheral series of curved teeth H9 provided in the clutch element I04 so that the brake element Hi5 will rotate with the gear 99 relative to the brake band I98 when the carriage 23 is displaced rearwardly (toward the right viewed from Figure 4) against the frictional reaction between the brake element 35 and its flexible band I08. In bringing the carriage 23 to its initial forward position (toward the left viewed from Figure 4) the ball bearings I93 will become lodged in the troughs of the teeth H9 on the clutch element I04 to permit its displacement without the effect of brake elements lint-I08 and disconnect such entirely so far as movement of the carriage 23 is effected toward the forward plate ll of the frame ill.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the edible substances are discharged through the, spout 23 to the interior of the receptacle 5! for application against the bottom thereof to displace it toward the right or rearwardly against the resistance offered by the brake elements l95l98. The resistance may be adjusted within a wide range de pending upon the position of the weight llii along the brake bar H5. This determines the density at which the edible substances 99 are packed within the container 5i until it is completely filled. Obviously, this will require the carriage 23 to be displaced to its extreme position adjacent the conveyor 9|. When the car-- riage 23 arrives at its extreme position coincident with a completely filled container 5i, as designated, automatic means may be provided for re dering inactive any further feeding operation of the edible substances from the treatment machine 82.

Then, too, the severing wire 51 is elevated by actuating thelever instrumentalities operatively connected therewith, and the tub or receptacle 5| is, thereupon, rotated in a clockwise direction with its open mouth vertically upward for displacement along the conveyor frame 95 with the aid of the rollers 92 journalled thereon. Another empty receptacle is brought into position by displacement over the rollers 92 so as to easily and expeditiously effect its mounting upon the re-- ceptacle sustaining bracket 32. This operation is repeated and the container is filled with any predetermined quantity depending upon the size of the container, its shape and the density at which the substance is packed therein which is a factor of the resistance afforded by the adjustable brake elements lll5lil3.

It should be appreciated that in the filling of receptacles in the manner described with the teachings of the present invention, voids in the packed substance are entirely eliminated to the extent of precluding the accumulation of water and air. This is undesirable in that edible products deteriorate much more readily with voids therein and such is not conducive to a uniform and homogeneous product. Then, too, with a device of this character, the receptacles can be packed immediately after the substances are treated or chilled so as to render them available for the market without any delay and in the freshest possible condition. This is conducive to a much more satisfactory productand minimizes the expense of handling. Production is increased and the resulting product together with the packaging thereof is much more uniform and satisfactory from every possible standpoint.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a container packing device, the combination with a movable carrier, of pivotal means on said carrier for supporting a container for movement along a predetermined path, means for discharging substances into a container supported by said carrier while being displaced by the force of substance discharge, and means for prescribing a measured amount of substance discharge for confinement in said container, adjustable latch means for normally maintaining said pivotal means in operative filling position, and means for releasing said latch means and pivotally displacing said container supporting means with the filled container thereon.

2. In a container packing device, the combination with a frame, of a carrier movable along said frame, pivotal means on said carrier for sup-- porting a container for movement along a predetermined path, means for discharging substances into said container while being displaced by the force of substance discharge, means for severing the container confined substance from said discharge means, and means for varying the angular position of said pivotal container supporting means.

3. In a container packing device, the combination with a frame, of a carrier reciprocably mounted in said frame, means for supporting a container for movement along a predetermined path with said carrier, means for discharging substances into said container while being displaced by the force of substance discharge, braking means for retarding the movement of said container supporting means to regulate the density of the container filled substance, means for severing the container confined substance from said discharge means, and means for displacing said container supporting means relative to said carrier to remove the filled container from said predetermined path of carrier movement.

4. In a container packing device, the combination with a frame, of a carrier reciprocably mounted on said frame, means adjustably associated with said carrier for supporting a con tainer for movement along a predetermined path, means for discharging substances into said container while being displaced by the force of subtance discharge, braking means for retarding the movement of said container supporting means to regulate the density of the container filled substance, means for severing the container confined substance from said discharge means at a predetermined position of container displacement, and means for displacing said container supporting means relative to said carrier to remove the filled container from said predetermined path of carrier movement.

5. In a container packing device, the combination with a frame, of a carrier reciprocably mounted on said frame, tiltable means on said carrier for supporting a container for movement along a predetermined path, means for discharging substances into said container while being displaced by the force of substance discharge, braking means for retarding the movement of said container supporting means to regulate the density of the container filled substance, clutch means for releasing said braking means in returning said container supporting means to initial position, means for severing the container confined substance from said discharge means at a predetermined position of container displacement, and means for actuating said tiltable container supporting means relative to said carrier.

6. In a container packing device, the combination with a frame, of a carrier reciprocably mounted on said frame, means rockably mounted on said carrier for supporting a container for movement along a predetermined path, means for discharging substances into said container while being displaced by the force of substance discharge, means for severing the container confined substance from said discharge means, latch means for holding said rockably mounted container supporting means in a predetermined position relative to said carrier, and means for releasing said latch means and tilting said container supporting means relative to said carrier subsequent to the operation of said severing means.

7. In a container packing device, the combination with a frame, of a carrier reciprocably mounted on said frame, means rockably mounted on said carrier for supporting a container for movement along a predetermined path, of means for discharging substances into said container while being displaced by the force of substance discharge, means for severing the container confined substance from said discharge means, latch means for holding said rockably mounted container supporting means in a predetermined position relative to said carrier, braking means for retarding the movement of said container supporting means to regulate the density of the container filled substance, and means for releasing said latch means and tilting said container supporting means relative to said carrier subsequent to the operation of said severing means.

8. In a container packing device, the combination with a frame, of a carrier reciprocably mounted on said frame, means rockably mounted on said carrier for supporting a container for movement along a predetermined path, of means for discharging substances into said container while being displaced by the force of substance discharge, means for severing the container confined substance from said discharge means, latch means for holding said rockably mounted con-.

tainer supporting means in a predetermined posi tion relative to said carrier, adjustable braking means for retarding the movement of said container supporting means to regulate the density of the container filled substance, and means for releasing said latch means and tilting said container supporting means relative to said carrier subsequent to the operation of said severing means.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a carriage mounted for displacement along said frame, a membe pivoted to said carriage to support a container, of substance discharging means in the path of said container supporting carriage, severing means mounted for displacement across the opening of the container when positioned for receiving substances from said discharge means, means for operating said severing means when said container supporting carriage has been displaced by the substance issuing from said discharging means, and means for changing the angular position of said pivoted container supporting member subsequent to operating said severing means.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a carriage mounted for displacement along said frame, a member pivoted tosaid carriage to support a container, of substance discharging means in the path of said container supporting carriage, braking means for retarding the movement of said carriage to regulate the density of the container filled substance, severing means mounted for displacement across the opening of said container when positioned for receiving the substances from said discharge means, means for operating said severing means when said container supporting carriage has been displaced by the substance issuing from said discharging means, and means for changing the angular position of said pivoted container supporting member subsequent to operating said severing means.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a carriage mounted for displacement along said frame, a member pivoted to said carriage to support a container, of substance discharging means in the path of said container supporting carriage, braking means for retarding the movement of said carriage to regulate the density of the container filled substance, clutch means for releasing said braking means in returning said carriage to initial position, severing means mounted for displacement across the opening of said container when positioned for receiving the substances from said discharge means, means for operating said severing means when said container supporting carriage has been displaced by the substance issuing from said discharging means, and means for changing the angular position of said pivoted container supporting member subsequent to operating said severing means.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a carriage mounted for displacement along said frame, a member pivoted to said carriage to support a container, of substance discharging means in the path of said container supporting carriage, adjustable braking means for retarding the movement of said carriage to regulate the density of said container filled substance, clutch means for releas ing said braking means in returning said oarriage to initial positioning, severing means mount ed for displacement across the opening of said container when positioned for receiving the substances from said discharge means, means .for operating said severing means when said container supporting carriage has been displaced by the substance issuing from said discharging means, and means for changing the angular position of said pivoted container supporting member subsequent to operating said severing means.

CHARLES DOERING. 

